Upper Body Garment

ABSTRACT

An upper body garment is provided comprising a body, a neck, a lower hem, sleeves, and underarm sections. The upper body garment, in some embodiments, is shaped such that it is invisible when worn under an outer garment. The shape of the upper body garment further provides for the encouragement of posture improvement of the wearer, which is optionally accomplished with a posture-improvement section. The upper body garment optionally has two layers comprising the underarm sections, one that is moisture repellent, and one that is moisture absorbent. Further, the upper body garment optionally has an anti-microbial finish applied to the underarm sections.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an upper body garment, particularly relatingto an improved upper body undergarment utilizing new structures andtechnologies for the garment field. In particular, the invention relatesto a sweat protecting upper body garment with a unique pattern-lay.

A strong market exists for an alternative upper body undergarment totraditional t-shirts, V-necks, sweat deterrent shirts or postureimprovement undergarments that can be worn invisibly underneath awearer's exterior shirt and that provide specific all-encompassingfunctionality, particularly pertaining to men. Traditional undershirts,when being worn under a normal button down shirt, are visible where thetop couple of buttons are unbuttoned. This leaves the wearer sacrificingthe style of having only their skin show where the buttons are undone.

There are choices the wearer has in the marketplace such as V-necks ordeep cut neck lines that “scoop” under the top few buttons of outerwear.There are “sweat blocking” shirts that provide additional padding underthe arm to absorb moisture for those with medical conditions withabnormal perspiration levels such as Hyperhidrosis. There are postureimproving shirts in the market as well. However, each one is onlymono-functional.

These others shirts do not simultaneously guard against sweatprotection, support posture and are not manufactured in a uniquepattern-lay to stay 100% invisible even if the wearer were to completelyunbutton his shirt, all the way down to the belt.

Additionally, these other shirts are full-length. No matter what“cooling” mechanism is applied to these fabrics, there still exists alayer of fabric between the wearers flesh and the air. All too often atraditional undershirt is worn to block perspiration from “bleeding”through their outer-shirt. In the summer months, the wearer may wear anundershirt to block his underarm sweat, but then the rest of his upperbody is too hot. Further, other types of exterior shirts are desirablein summer months. These alternative undershirts listed above are fulllength shirts themselves and could potentially show at the bottom and/orat the neck-line of the exterior summer-worn t-shirt. The presentinvention is cut, around back, horizontally much further up andopen-chested around the front, designed to remove as much fabric aspossible while still performing its functional duties.

The present invention encompasses all of the above i.e., postureimprovement functionality due to the design and fit, a unique“half-shirt” design removing as much fabric as possible, simultaneouslystaying hidden and keeping the wearer cool, and specific sweat reducingfabric applications concentrated in strategic spots designed to cutfabric cost in the manufacturing process.

Consequently, consumers are in need of an improved upper bodyundergarment that remains hidden when worn and reduces visibleperspiration. Moreover, garment manufacturers are in need of aneconomically designed upper body undergarment that meets consumerdemand. Consequently, an improved upper body undergarment that remainshidden when worn and reduces visible perspiration is desirable for bothconsumers and garment manufacturers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to provide an upper body garment with reducedperspiration visibility and improved cooling abilities. The upper bodygarment is comprised of a body 410, a neck 421, a lower hem 432, atleast one sleeve 445, and at least one underarm section 457. The body410 and the neck 421 cover the back of the wearer and extend partiallyaround the sides such that the front of the neck and the chest of thewearer are left uncovered. The lower hem 432 terminates above the lowerhem of an exterior garment. The sleeves 445 at least partially cover thewearer's arms. The underarm sections 457 at least partially cover theunderarms of the wearer.

Additionally, the underarm section 657 is made of at least two layers.The interior-most layer is moisture absorbent and the exterior-mostlayer is moisture repellent. Alternatively, the underarm section 657 ismade with an anti-microbial finish that reduces the amount of microbespresent in the fabric. Further, the shape of the upper body garmentencourages the improvement of the wearer's posture during normal wear.

Accordingly, several advantages are to provide an upper body garment, toprovide an interior moisture absorbent layer and an exterior moisturerepellent layer, and to provide an anti-microbial finish. Still furtheradvantages will become apparent from a study of the followingdescriptions and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front of an upper body garment as worn by ahuman male according to multiple embodiments and alternatives.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back of an upper body garment as worn by ahuman male according to multiple embodiments and alternatives.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the side of an upper body garment as worn by ahuman male according to multiple embodiments and alternatives.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the front of an upper body garment according tomultiple embodiments and alternatives.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the back of an upper body garment with aposture-improvement section as worn by a human male according tomultiple embodiments and alternatives.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the side of an upper body garment with anunderarm section, designated by a cross-hatch pattern, as worn by ahuman male with an arm extended upward according to multiple embodimentsand alternatives.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The upper body garment is encompassed in a plurality of preferredembodiments that shall be discussed in the present section. The upperbody garment is unique in structure due to specific cuts and hems thatenable the shirt to stay hidden underneath exposed outerwear whileproviding distinct functionality.

Referring to FIG. 1, an upper body garment is shown as worn by a humanmale comprising a body 110, a neck 121, sleeves 145, and underarmsections 157. The upper body garment, essentially, is a half-shirt withthe lower hem cut horizontally around the mid to upper back regionwrapping underneath the arms leading into the sleeve 145 which wraparound and down the arm a few inches. The hem on the front of the shirtclimbs up around the back of the neck 121, leaving the chest exposed.The upper body garment's functional purpose is multi-faceted includingmultiple dual layered sweat absorption and dispersion fabric areas andencouraged posture support due to the shape, which wraps under the armsand around the back of the wearer's neck, all while staying completelyhidden. Cut horizontally above the middle of the wearers back with thefront center of the shirt cut out, this leaves the chest, sternum andstomach exposed to only the inside of the outer garment.

In some embodiments, the upper body garment is an undergarment that isworn beneath another upper body garment, referred to as anouter-garment. If the user is wearing an outer garment (i.e., a buttondown shirt) with the top buttons undone, or any outer-shirt leaving thetop of the chest exposed, the wearer of this upper body garment isseemingly bare-chested. The unique design of this upper body garment ispatterned such that it wraps up under the underarm of the wearer and theseam begins to climb approximately where the underarm touches the farleft section of the wearer's left pectoral muscle at about a 45 degreeangle toward the back of the wearer's neck, wraps around, then back downat the same 45 degree angle on the other side of the wearer's right sideof his right pectoral muscle where it touches his other underarm.Essentially, the upper body garment cuts straight across your mid toupper back region, below the neck, leaving the bottom half or moreexposed to as much air as possible.

The upper body garment incorporates several different fabrics dependingon the functionality the wearer desires. In some embodiments, thematerial is a cotton blend. In some other embodiments, the material is apolyester blend. Additionally, there is a plurality of other potentialfabrics that it could embody, including: Spandex, LYCRA, Nylon, Silk,Modal and others. These fabrics were picked with specific blended ratiosto move with the body and to form fit the shape of a human.

In one embodiment, the specific fabric used for this undergarment is aPolyester/Spandex blend of 85% Polyester and 15% Spandex 58″/60″ 245 gm.The underarm section and potentially the middle of the back sectionwarrant a fabric that holds more functionality than the rest of theshirt. Men tend to perspire more heavily in these areas, so the underarmsection will incorporate a fabric that combines two technologies intoone application. From the outside to the middle of the fabric, thefabric is moisture repellent. From the inside to the middle, the fabricis moisture absorbent. This application will enhance the functionalityof the shirt in the most heavy perspiration areas to be as functional aspossible. One example of this fabric is developed by Schoeller®Technologies AG, called 3XDRY®. Further options exist to accomplish thefunction of this fabric in the form of finishes, fabrics, and otherapplications.

This specific application used embodies two functions: Hydrophilic(attraction or acceptance of water) and Hydrophobic (little or noaffinity to water) onto separate sides of the 3XDRY® fabric. The insidelayer being Hydrophilic that absorbs the sweat, and the outside layerHydrophobic that pushes the sweat away. Accordingly, when a humansweats, he wants that sweat absorbed quickly into the fabric, so it doesnot sit atop his skin and feel wet in the underarm. If enough moisturecollects, the moisture could drip down the sides of his body if thewearer perspires heavily. Additionally, once the moisture is absorbedinto the fabric, the wearer does not want the visual progression ofperspiration on the outer garment, thus the repellent layer pushes thatmoisture away from the outer garment. This configuration causes thesweat to disperse and evaporate with the natural movement of the wearer.Accordingly, a cooling effect is experienced by the wearer.Collectively, this embodiment serves to eliminate perspiration marks onthe outer garment and leaves the wearer with the comfort and confidencelevel he desires in an upper body garment.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an upper body garment is shown as viewed fromthe back of the wearer. The upper body garment shown in FIG. 2 comprisesa body 210, a neck 221, a lower hem 232, sleeves 245, and underarmsections 257. The upper body garment shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to theupper body garment shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, an upper body garment is shown as viewed from theside of the wearer. With the wearer's arm rested at his side, a body310, a neck 321, a lower hem 332, and a sleeve 345 are visible. Theupper body garment shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the upper body garmentshown in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 primarily displays the sleeves of the wearer, as there relativelylittle fabric that extends down the rest of the side of the body. Thesleeves add extra support to the infrastructure of the upper bodygarment as so much fabric has been removed elsewhere.

Accordingly, the way the sleeves wrap around the underarms and theshoulders extending down several inches of the arm gives the upper bodygarment (given it's unique “half-shirt” pattern-lay) an ability to besubstantially retained by the wearer's body. Since the front chestsection of the shirt is cut out and instead wraps around the back of theneck—and since the upper body garment holds onto the front of thewearer's shoulders and underneath the armpit instead of lying over thebody and hanging—the upper body garment provides a gentle tighteningsensation around both the shoulders and the neck. This tighteningsensation reminds the wearer to pull his shoulders back and improve hisposture. The fit has to be appropriate as to not be too tight, as thiscould become uncomfortable.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an upper body garment is shown separate fromthe human body. The upper body garment comprises a body 410, a neck 421,a lower hem 432, sleeves 445, and underarm sections 457.

FIG. 5 shows an upper body garment as viewed from the back or a wearercomprising a posture-improvement section 563 in addition to a body 510,a neck 521, a lower hem 532, sleeves 545, and underarm sections 557.

The upper middle of the back is also a common area men develop heavierperspiration. The same fabric used in the underarm section 557 can beused to layer the middle section of the back, the posture-improvementsection 563, to guard against perspiration. The posture-improvementsection 563 is also be used in conjunction with tightening properties tohold or pull the shoulders back. Additionally, a denser material may beused for the posture-improvement section 563 such as a heavier Spandexto cotton or Spandex to Polyester ratio—up to 25% Spandex 75% of eithercotton or Polyester.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an upper body garment is shown as viewed fromthe side of the wearer with the wearer's arm extended upward, thusexposing the underarm. The upper body garment comprises a body 610, aneck 621, a lower hem 632, a sleeve 645, and an underarm section 657that is defined by the cross-hatch pattern.

There are several sweat/odor reduction applications that could apply tothe underarm section 657. Dual layered sweat absorption/repellent,anti-microbial and other sweat wicking or odor reducing fabrics, amongstothers that can be sewn into more common sweat producing sections of theupper body and/or used over the entire garment. Accordingly, in someembodiments, the underarm section 657 comprises an anti-microbialfinish. Common anti-microbial finishes include brominated phenols,quaternary ammonium compounds, organo-silver and tin compounds, whichcan be applied as solutions or dispersions. These anti-microbialfinishes can also be incorporated in a polymeric film deposited on thesurface to achieve controlled release. One embodiment of theanti-microbial finish is the active>silver™ application produced bySchoeller® Technologies AG, which is based on a Silver Chloride listedin the EU Biocidal Product Regulations. This anti-microbial finish isdifferent than classic anti-bacterial agents because classicanti-bacterial agents use toxic substances that kill off all thebacteria, including the “good” bacteria. This anti-microbial finish onlyhampers the growth of “bad” bacteria.

Incorporating this anti-microbial and/or anti-sweat functionality willallow the wearer to wash his outer garments less due to less sweat, dirtand bacteria from the wearer, thus prolonging the life of an expensiveouter garment. Accordingly, the wearer saves money over the life of theupper body garment.

In some embodiments, the upper body garment further comprisesnon-rolling edges that are incorporated in at least the lower hem, neckand edges of the body. The non-rolling edges are configured to fit thewearer and prevent the edges of the upper body garment from rolling overon them. The non-rolling edges provide a means to prevent the edges ofthe upper body garment from showing when worn as an undergarment beneathand outer garment.

It will be understood that the embodiments described herein are notlimited in their application to the details of the teachings anddescriptions set forth, or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.Rather, it will be understood that an upper body garment, as taught anddescribed according to multiple embodiments disclosed herein, is capableof other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in variousways.

Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology usedherein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. The use herein of “including,” “comprising,” “e.g.,”“containing,” or “having,” and variations of those words is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter, and equivalents of those, as wellas additional items.

Accordingly, the descriptions herein are not intended to be exhaustive,nor are they meant to limit the understanding of the embodiments to theprecise forms disclosed. It will be understood by those having ordinaryskill in the art that modifications and variations of these embodimentsare reasonably possible in light of the above teachings anddescriptions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An upper body garment, comprising: a body that isconfigured to cover at least a portion of the torso; a lower hem that isconfigured to be the lower bound, wherein the remainder of the upperbody and the lower body extend beyond; a neck that is configured to bethe upper bound, wherein the remainder of the neck and the head extendbeyond; at least one sleeve that is configured to cover at least aportion of the arm of the wearer; and at least one underarm section thatis configured to cover at least a portion of the underarm of the wearer;wherein the underarm section comprises at least two layers, one that ismoisture repellent, and one that is moisture absorbent.
 2. The upperbody garment of claim 1, wherein the moisture repellent layer of theunderarm section is substantially located on the exterior of thegarment.
 3. The upper body garment of claim 1, wherein the moistureabsorbent layer of the underarm section is substantially located on theinterior of the garment.
 4. The upper body garment of claim 1, whereinthe section of the upper body garment chosen from the group consistingof the body, the lower hem, the neck, at least one sleeve, and anycombination thereof further comprises at least two layers, one that ismoisture repellent, and one that is moisture absorbent.
 5. The upperbody garment of claim 1, wherein the section of the upper body garmentchosen from the group consisting of the body, the lower hem, the neck,at least one sleeve, and any combination thereof further comprises amoisture repellent finish.
 6. The upper body garment of claim 1, whereinthe lower hem terminates above the lower hem of an outer-upper bodygarment, the neck covers the back-base of the neck of the wearerextending at least partially around the sides of the neck of the userterminating at about each respective collar bone, and the body coversthe back of the wearer extending around the sides of the abdomen andterminating at about the outside of each respective pectoral muscle. 7.The upper body garment of claim 1, wherein the underarm section furthercomprises an anti-microbial finish that is configured to reduce theamount of microorganisms in the fabric.
 8. The upper body garment ofclaim 1, further comprising a posture-improvement section that isconfigured to encourage the improvement of the posture of the wearerduring normal wear.
 9. The upper body garment of claim 1, wherein atleast a portion of the back of the body further comprises at least twolayers, one that is moisture repellent, and one that is moistureabsorbent.
 10. The upper body garment of claim 1, wherein the upper bodygarment is configured to encourage the improvement of the posture of thewearer during normal wear.
 11. An upper body garment, comprising: a bodythat is configured to cover at least a portion of the torso; a lower hemthat is configured to be the lower bound, wherein the remainder of theupper body and the lower body extend beyond; a neck that is configuredto be the upper bound, wherein the remainder of the neck and the headextend beyond; at least one sleeve that is configured to cover at leasta portion of the arm of the wearer; and at least one underarm sectionthat is configured to cover at least a portion of the under arm of thewearer; wherein the underarm section comprises an anti-microbial finishthat is configured to reduce the amount of microorganisms in the fabric.12. The upper body garment of claim 11, wherein the section of the upperbody garment chosen from the group consisting of the body, the lowerhem, the neck, at least one sleeve, and any combination thereof furthercomprises a moisture repellent finish.
 13. The upper body garment ofclaim 11, wherein the section of the upper body garment chosen from thegroup consisting of the body, the lower hem, the neck, at least onesleeve, and any combination thereof further comprises an anti-microbialfinish that is configured to reduce the amount of microorganisms in thefabric.
 14. The upper body garment of claim 11, wherein the lower hemterminates above the lower hem of an outer-upper body garment, the neckcovers the back-base of the neck of the wearer extending at leastpartially around the sides of the neck of the user terminating at abouteach respective collar bone, and the body covers the back of the wearerextending around the sides of the abdomen and terminating at about theoutside of each respective pectoral muscle.
 15. The upper body garmentof claim 11, wherein the anti-microbial finish is chosen from the groupconsisting of brominated phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds,organo-silver compounds, tin compounds, and any combination thereof. 16.The upper body garment of claim 11, further comprising aposture-improvement section that is configured to encourage improvementof the posture of the wearer during normal wear.
 17. The upper bodygarment of claim 11, wherein the section of the upper body garmentchosen from the group consisting of the body, the lower hem, the neck,at least one sleeve, and any combination thereof further comprises atleast two layers, one that is moisture repellent, and one that ismoisture absorbent.
 18. An upper body garment, comprising: a body thatis configured to cover at least a portion of the torso; a lower hem thatis configured to be the lower bound, wherein the remainder of the upperbody and the lower body extend beyond; a neck that is configured to bethe upper bound, wherein the remainder of the neck and the head extendbeyond; and at least one sleeve that is configured to cover at least aportion of the arm of the wearer, wherein the lower hem terminates abovethe lower hem of an outer-upper body garment, the neck covers theback-base of the neck of the wearer extending at least partially aroundthe sides of the neck of the user terminating at about each respectivecollar bone, and the body covers the back of the wearer extending aroundthe sides of the abdomen and terminating at about the outside of eachrespective pectoral muscle.
 19. The upper body garment of claim 18,further comprising at least two layers, one that is moisture repellent,and one that is moisture absorbent.
 20. The upper body garment of claim18, further comprising an anti-microbial finish that is configured toreduce the amount of microorganisms in the fabric.